A method and apparatus for treating tissue are disclosed, including intra-operative mapping of a probe ablation zone. The method uses a system that maps the proximal and distal margins of the probe ablation zone using tools that access the ablation target. In some embodiments, the tools comprise a bone drill, and an introducer assembly, including a cannula and a stylet. The tools have features or markings that cooperate to indicate which probe to use to achieve the desired ablation. The method further facilitates planning probe placement for delivering energy to treat (ablate) a desired ablation volume of a target tissue by using a system that maps both the target tissue and possible probe ablation zones.

According to some embodiments, a medical instrument comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end and a pair of electrodes or electrode portions (for example, a split-tip electrode assembly). Systems and methods are described herein that perform contact sensing and/or ablation confirmation based on electrical measurements obtained while energy of different frequencies are applied to the pair of electrodes or electrode portions. The contact sensing systems and methods may calibrate network parameter measurements to compensate for a hardware unit in a network parameter measurement circuit or to account for differences in cables, instrumentation or hardware used.

The invention relates to a marker body (10) for marking breast tissue for radiotherapy. The marker body (10) has an at least partly tube-like body (12) which is made from a soft elastic material and carries multiple radio-opaque marker elements (18). The at least partly tube-like body (12) is designed so that it offers hardly any resistance to an external, deforming force, but returns to its original shape in the absence of external forces. The at least partly tube-like body (12) has two free longitudinal ends (14, 16) which can be detachably interconnected or are interconnected, resulting in a tubular ring.

A tissue marking system includes a tissue marking beacon and a near-infrared (NIR) camera configured to detect emission of pulsatile NIR light from the tissue marking beacon. The tissue marking beacon is suitable for being injected into a tumor to mark a position and depth of the tumor for treatment. NIR light is emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned on the tissue marking beacon and is detected by the NIR camera. A pulsatile emission of NIR light from the LED is controlled to by synchronized with a data capture rate and/or detector exposure (shutter) of the NIR camera.

Aspects of embodiments pertain to a perineal protection device for reducing the risk or preventing perineal tear during birth. The device may comprise a reinforcement shield that is releasably connectable to a female perineum of a subject, the reinforcement shield having a surface geometry substantially corresponding to an underlying perineal muscle structure and being configured to reduce deformation of the perineum during childbirth. Optionally, the perineal protection device further comprises a fastener arrangement for releasably securing the reinforcement shield to the female perineum. The fastener arrangement may comprise a support pad that is adhesively engageable with the subject and/or straps for strapping the reinforcement shield to the subject.

A surgical device comprising an elongated body, a tissue penetrating apparatus and a light projector. The elongated body can reach with distal end thereof a surface of an organ within a subject's body. The tissue penetrating apparatus can be extended from the elongated body distal end along a curved penetration path restricted to a chosen penetration plane. The light projector can generate a shaped illumination on the surface of the organ indicative of an intersection of the penetration plane with the surface of the organ.

Single use medical devices and mechanisms for preventing the re-use thereof. A single use medical device may include a housing defining an insertion slot and a lockout mechanism. The lockout mechanism may comprise a biasing mechanism and a movable slide element positioned adjacent to the insertion slot and the biasing mechanism, the slide element movable between a pre-use configuration, an in-use configuration, and a post-use configuration. The slide element may be actuated via an insertion member removably inserted into the insertion slot.

A surgical simulation network system is provided that facilitates user training in various surgical procedures and subsequent assessments of the user by allowing the users and assessors to be at different physical locations. The surgical simulation network system is part of a network having various surgical trainers that capture user performance data related to various surgical simulations. The user performance data is subsequently accessible by one or more assessors via the surgical simulation network system that allows the assessors to assess the user's competency. Thus, the users and the assessors can be located at different locations. Furthermore, the performance of the simulation and the assessments can be performed at different times.

A medical holding apparatus includes: a support including a plurality of arms, and a plurality of joints configured to connect the plurality of arms, the support being configured to support an imaging unit at a distal end thereof; a load applying mechanism arranged in at least one of the joints and configured to apply a resistance load against operation of the at least one of the joints to the support; and a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to: set torque to be applied by the load applying mechanism based on an operating state of the imaging unit; and apply a load corresponding to the set torque to the load applying mechanism when a rotation inhibit state of each of the arms of the support is released.

A method, a controller, and a surgical hybrid navigation system for transferring a registration of three dimensional image data of a surgical object from a first to a second surgical navigation system are described. A first tracker that is detectable by a first detector of the first surgical navigation system is arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with the surgical object and a second tracker that is detectable by a second detector of the second surgical navigation system is arranged in a fixed spatial relationship with the surgical object. The method includes registering the three dimensional image data of the surgical object in a first coordinate system of the first surgical navigation system and determining a first position and orientation of the first tracker in the first coordinate system and a second position and orientation of the second tracker in a second coordinate system of the second surgical navigation system.